Inside Arthur's study, silence enveloped the room, punctuated only by the soft hum of the estate's climate control and the occasional crackle from the fireplace.
Arthur reclined in his high-backed leather chair, a glass of deep red wine swirling untouched in his hand.
The vibrant liquid caught the dim light, casting fractured reflections across his polished mahogany desk.
Outside, the moon hung like a silver bullet hole in a black canvas sky, its cold light slicing through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The grounds of Osborn Estate stretched beyond. manicured hedges and ancient trees standing as silent witnesses to the day's turmoil.
Arthur tightened his grip around the glass. "You're no brother of mine." The words echoed in his mind, each repetition sending fresh waves of tension through his shoulders.
He exhaled sharply through his nose and set down the drink with deliberate precision; the crystal made a soft clink against the desk.
